Sammy Batten: UNC hoping this first impression is deceiving

The North Carolina Tar Heels certainly hope that's true after getting knocked off, 35-30, by California in the 2017 season opener Saturday at Kenan Stadium.

The setback wasn't one many saw coming, despite the fact UNC is reloading on offense. The Tar Heels were expected to struggle on that side of the ball after losing quarterback Mitch Trubisky, running backs Elijah Hood and T.J. Logan, and receivers Ryan Switzer, Bug Howard and Mack Hollins to the NFL.

But this was a California team picked to finish dead last in the Pac-12 Conference's North Division, which was playing its first game in a new system under first-year head coach Justin Wilcox, and had traveled through four times zones to meet the Tar Heels. All those factors added up to UNC being a 12.5-point favorite over the Bears.

Ultimately, though, it wasn't the offense and all its new faces that let UNC down Saturday. Nor was it anything special California did, although the Bears deserve credit for making the plays needed to win.

Rather, it was the veteran defense with its seven starters, including several touted for all-star status in '17, that was an epic fail for the Tar Heels.

Big plays and a killer penalty

The afternoon didn't start badly for the defense. In fact, it forced California into punting situations on its first two series of the game. But on the Bears' third possession, the big plays started to materialize.

First, it was a 21-yard pass to start the series, followed by a 26-yarder that set up the game's first touchdown. The Bears would deliver four more big plays over the final three quarters, all pivotal in the outcome. Three resulted in touchdowns passes of 67, 54 and 20 yards that helped California take control of the game.

A 43-yard pass play from Cal quarterback Ross Bowers to Jordan Duncan even set up the game-clinching score with 5:16 to play.

“We honestly just beat ourselves. Every time they scored it was as self-inflicted wound,'' said UNC's junior linebacker Andre Smith, who proved one of the defensive highlights of the afternoon by returning an interception 73 yards. It was one of two picks for the Tar Heels, who recorded just one interception in 2016.

“The big plays were very disappointing,'' Smith continued. “Something we pride ourselves in is not having a lot of catastrophic plays. We had a lot of that.''

As damaging as the big plays surrendered by UNC was a late hit called on junior defensive tackle Jalen Dalton late in the first half with the Tar Heels ahead 17-7. With Cal facing a third-and-12 at its own 18, Dalton pummeled Bowers well after a pass left his hand and fell incomplete. Called for helmet-to-helmet contact, Dalton was ejected from the game.

On the very next play, Bowers connected with Vic Wharton on a 67-yard touchdown play.

“We have them backing up and punting,'' UNC coach Larry Fedora said. “You can't make that mistake. You have to be smart.''

Trouble ahead?

Defensive struggles are nothing new for North Carolina. The Tar Heels have been pretty dreadful on that side of the ball for several seasons now.

But Fedora wanted and needed this defense to be the better unit, at least until the reworked offense could establish itself. That didn't happen Saturday, and a repeat performance next week would be disastrous for UNC because nationally ranked Louisville, with its reigning Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson at quarterback, will be coming to town.

“It excites me,'' Smith said. “We get an opportunity to play against a great football player. We just have to go back to work. We obviously have a lot to learn from this film.''

And hope that first impressions are deceiving.

Staff writer Sammy Batten can be reached at sbatten@fayobserver.com or 486-3534.

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